Aquagirls fall to No. 11 Roosevelt
DES MOINES — The Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella swim team expected a tough dual with No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt on Tuesday, and, that’s exactly what they got.
NCMP coach Sarah Patterson thought her team would have to improve up and down the lineup to pull off the upset.
Unfortunately, the No. 12 Aquagirls turned in some fast times but didn’t have enough in the end to claim the win. NCMP lost 112-74, but Patterson came away pleased anyway.
“We knew that we were the underdogs going into the meet, and that every point would count,” Patterson said. “In order to beat them, we would have to go best times across the board, and that’s just tough at this point in the season.
“Overall, we swam well. At any other meet, we have been pretty happy with our times and performances, but it was hard to fall short at a meet we had been talking about for a week.”
The night began with sophomore Ellen Colville taking second in the 200-meter freestyle, while senior Michelle Rabedeaux won the 200 Individual Medley. Colville also won the 500 freestyle, two spots ahead of teammate Morgan Daniels, who took third.
“Michelle is just a tough, consistent performer week in and week out,” Patterson said. “She is such a great role model for this team.”
Sophomore Taylor Quayle also fared well in the 50 freestyle, taking second overall.
Also coming in second in the 100 freestyle was sophomore Courtney Meyer as she fell just short of Eno Augustine-Akpan, one of the fastest freestyle swimmers in the state.
Meyer also placed second in the backstroke, while Rabedeaux was second in the 100 breaststroke.
In the 100 butterfly, juniors Stephanie Griffith and Lindsey Hook went 2-3.
The divers had a good night as well as Shelby Fox, Jeanann Dougan and Lea Mikkelson placed 2-3-4 in the varsity competition, while Lexie Cupples won the JV event.
The 200 and 400 freestyle ‘A’ relay teams were both second on the night. While the ‘B’ relay squads both grabbed third.
The 200 freestyle ‘A’ relay team consisted of Hook, Griffith, Rabedeaux and Colville and the ‘B’ team was freshman Kora Scotton, sophomore Dani Peters, freshman Sidney Griffith and Daniels.
The 400 freestyle ‘A’ team was made up of Colville, Griffith, Quayle and Meyer and the foursome swam their second fastest time of the season. Regina Starkenburg had a lifetime best split during the lead-off leg as she helped the ‘B’ relay team to third.
Senior Katelyn Jolivette won two JV events on the night, taking top honors in the 200 and 500 freestyle.
Sophomore Amber Fruetel won the JV 50 freestyle, senior Leah Norcross won the 100 butterfly and Liz McCann won the 100 backstroke in junior varsity events, as well.
The next dual for No. 12 NCMP will take place Thursday as the Aquagirls take on Fort Dodge for senior night.
The dual will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Newton YMCA.
